Mariann Belair, 24, arrested in fatal Topeka shooting of 4-year-old Lawrencia Perez-Belair
A woman was arrested in connection with crimes that included first-degree murder after a 4-year-old girl was fatally shot Saturday in northeast Topeka's Oakland community.
The victim was identified as Lawrencia Perez-Belair, of Topeka, in a news release put out early Sunday morning by Topeka police Lt. Donna Eubanks.
Shawnee County Jail records said Mariann Lorene Belair, 24, of Topeka, was booked at 11:30 p.m. Saturday into the jail.
Belair was being held without bond Sunday morning in connection with one count each of first-degree murder in the commission of a felony and aggravated child endangerment involving a reckless situation, jail records said.
They indicated formal charges hadn't been filed.
Kansas law defines first-degree murder in the commission of a felony as being homicide resulting from the commission, attempt to commit or escape from an inherently dangerous felony.
Relationship between victim, suspect not revealed
Police weren't revealing the relationship between Belair and Lawrencia.
"All individuals involved have been identified and the investigation is ongoing," said Rosie Nichols, public safety communications specialist for the Topeka Police Department.
Lawrencia became Topeka's 30th homicide victim this year.
That ties the city's record for most homicides in a calendar year of 30, set in 2017.
City saw three juvenile homicides earlier in week
Police were called early Saturday afternoon to the 400 block of N.E. Grattan Avenue. The victim was taken from that location to a Topeka hospital, and later died there, Nichols said.
Officers had yellow crime scene tape up late Saturday afternoon at the rear of the house at 435 N.E. Grattan Ave.
The fatal shooting was Topeka's fourth since Tuesday to have victimized someone 18 or younger, with all four being homicides.
Damayah R. Calhoun, 17, was fatally shot early Friday in the 600 block of S.E. Lawrence. Ra'Juan Spicer, 18, was fatally shot early Wednesday evening in the 1200 block of S.W. Clay. Victor Carlton, 17, was fatally shot late Tuesday in the 2000 block of S.E. Pennsylvania Avenue.
No arrests have been made in the shootings that killed Calhoun, Carlton and Spicer, and police haven't said whether the cases might be linked.
Contact Tim Hrenchir at threnchir@gannett.com or 785-213-5934.
This article originally appeared on Topeka Capital-Journal: Fatal shooting of girl, 4, ties Topeka's calendar-year homicide record
